September 22, 2017

Miah Wagnon has served as an AmeriCorps VISTA since January, 2017. She was the first VISTA member placed by the Concho Valley VISTA Placement Project in San Angelo, Texas. Miah serves with the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health at Angelo State University helping to reduce barriers to health care and address gender specific health disparities.

Miah’s project created a committee of Hispanic community leaders to advise the Institute with expanded outreach and educational events focused on healthy living, navigating the health care system, and prevention of key chronic illnesses impacting the Hispanic population.

Miah is working with the new advisory committee to plan, implement, and evaluate the first event, a “Día de la Mujer” presented in Spanish to inform Hispanic families on some keys to prevention. The inaugural event is scheduled for September 30, 2017. More information is at:
Miah has secured more than 20 organizations to participate in an informational fair at the “Día de la Mujer” event. One partner organization is La Unica Broadcasting which is providing Spanish radio spots to promote the event. Miah has also appeared on local television and radio stations to promote the “Día de la Mujer.”

The keynote speaker is Gaby Natale of SuperLatina, a nationally syndicated TV show and 3-time Emmy award winner. San Angelo Community Medical Center has lined up local physicians to participate in the event, and the Medical Center will provide a healthy cooking demonstration and lunch.

Advertising and volunteer recruitment is the focus of Miah’s efforts in the coming weeks leading up to the event. Miah is excited to see her community service come to fruition in a way that will empower Hispanic women to increase access to essential health tools and resources for themselves and their families.